Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Chaotic withdrawal Indofood instant noodle
production occurred in Taiwan because the country questioned the
preservatives that one of them named nipagin or methyl
p-hydroxybenzoate.

In fact, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the body that
established the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health
Organization (WHO) to set food standards, has allowed the use of these
preservatives in certain limits.

Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Monday (10/11/2010), stating
that Indonesia based on the CAC and allow the use nipagin within certain
limits.

According to the BPOM, the use of instant noodle nipagin
circulating in Indonesia is still within control. The results of sample
tests on instant noodles soy sauce containing nipagin in the last five
years shows, none of the content of these preservatives that exceeds the
maximum limit.

So what exactly is a substance called methyl p-hydroxybenzoate which is found in soy sauce Indofood instant noodles to worry about Taiwan's Government?

According to information cited by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency
or the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nipagin an
additional substance to prevent mold and yeast. Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
is one of a kind parabens or preservatives that are widely used for
cosmetics and medicines.

Nipagin has another name, ie methylparaben with the chemical formula CH3
(C6H4 (OH) COO). Other types of parabens are also widely used is
propylparaben and butylparaben.

According to the FDA, for a product normally used parabens which
amounted to more than one type. Preservatives are usually combined with
other preservatives to provide protection against various
microorganisms.
Methylparaben is a type of "parabens" which can be produced naturally
and is found in some fruits, especially blueberries and other types of
parabens. So far, there has been no evidence that methylparaben can
cause adverse health effects at certain concentrations in body care or
cosmetic use.

The FDA considered, methylparaben as a preservative that is safe or
Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for cosmetics. In Europe, the
methylparaben used as a food preservative approved by the European Union
with code E-218.

Methylparaben can also be metabolized by soil bacteria so it was really
loose. Methylparaben easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract or
through the skin. This is the hydraulic to p-hydroxybenzoic acid and
quickly removed without accumulation in the body.

In every country, the upper limit the use of different nipagin. In the
United States, Canada, and Singapore, the maximum levels nipagin is
1,000 mg per kg. The Hong Kong nipagin 550 mg per kg. In Indonesia, POM
has set a limit on the use of nipagin 250 mg per kg. [kompas]